Angularly adjustable handle for paintbrushes



June 1, 1954 H, MCQLENAHAN 2,680,032

ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE HANDLE FOR PAINTBRUSHES Filed March 3, 1952Patented June 1, 1954 OFFICE ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE HANDLE FORPAINTBRUSHES Harold E. McClenahan, Omaha, Nebr. Application March 3,1952, Serial No. 274,601

This invention relates to paint brushes and more particularly it is anobject of this invention to provide a paint brush having an adjustableconnection between the handle and brush portions thereof.

It is well known that there are many difi'icult places to paint, such asthe guttering on houses. Such places are almost impossible to reach withan ordinary paint brush.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a paint brush,the handle of which can be set at any one of a plurality of desiredangles with respect to the brush portion thereof.

Still another object is to provide a paint brush as described which canbe adjusted in two directions, the brush portion being adapted to berotated about either one of two axes, each at right aiigles to theother.

Still another object is to provide a connection between the handle andbrush portion of a paint brush which is quickly and easily adjusted;

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for thepurpose described which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliableand efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, assemble and utilize.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following detailed description, drawings andclaims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawingsthemselves as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating away in which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalentprinciples may be used and structural changes may be made as desired bythose skilled in the art without departing from the present inventionand the purview of the appended claims.

In athe drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the paint brush of this invention shownwith a portion of the handle thereof removed.

Figure'2 is a view-imsection taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view-in-section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a grippable member having a screw on itslower end.

Figure 5 is a view-in-section taken along the line 55 of Figure 4.

The paint brush of this invention has a handle l0, bristles I2 and abristle holding portion I 4. The bristle holding portion M can beconstructed in any suitable manner. For purposes of illus- 4 Claims.(Cl. 28714) tration, a bristle holding portion of the type having ametal band It is shown disposed around a wooden block or mounting headE8. The foregoing is all old in the art and the connection of thisinvention will now be described.

In accordance with this invention a grippable member generally indicatedat 2i? is disposed above the portion IS. The member so has a screwsection 22 at its lower end which is adapted to be screwed into theportion is as shown in dotted lines in Figure l.

The grippable member 20 is further provided with a ridged portion 28having upwardly and downwardly extending, preferably equidistantlyspaced apart, elongated, external ridges 30 disposed preferably inparallelism with the axis of the screw 22. The ridges 30 are arranged inan approximately cylindrical configuration and the remainder of theportion 28 is also preferably of a cylindrical shape,

Two elongated, resilient securing portions 36 are provided and extendupwardly and outwardly from that end of the ridged portion 28 which isopposite the screw 22.

The securing portions 40 are resilient and tend to assume free positionsspaced apart from each other at their upper ends inclining downwardly topositions spaced closely together at their lower ends. A pivot member 50is provided, the member 58 being preferably of a cylindrical shape andhaving a passage 52 extending diametrically therethrough from top tobottom. The passage 50 is adapted to receive the securing portions 40.The passage 52 is provided'with outwardly flaring side walls on theupper end thereof opposite the grippable member 20 for tightly engagingthe securing portions 40.

The pivot member 50 further has two outwardly extending axially alignedstub axle. por- Hons- 56. -Thea-xle portions 56 are disposed-.111 a lineat a right angle to the axis of the passageway 52. I

Two grips 6t are provided, one on each side of the pivot member 50. Thegrips $0 each have fiat center surfaces 62 surrounded by a semi-circulararrangement of claws 64. The claws 64 are preferably equidistantlyspaced apart around the outer edges of the flat portions 62, the outerends of the claws 64 being turned inwardly for engaging the grippablemember 28 between the ridges 30.

In the center of each fiat surface 62 the grips have aligned aperturesfor receiving the stub axles 55. The grips 60 are attached to aconnecting piece in having two outwardly extending arms l2 and 14.

The arms 12 and 14 are attached at each end of the connecting portion 10and extend in parallelism into the handle it]. The arm 14 extends deeplyinto the handle I!) adjacent the center thereof while the arm 12 extendsinto the handle I adjacent one edge thereof being held in place by aband 80.

Although it is optional, the grips 60, the connecting member Ill and thearms 12 and M are all preferably integral and are formed from one pieceof material.

The grips are preferably resilient for tightly gripping the grippablemember 28.

In operation, when it is desired to set the handle ID at a difierentposition it can be moved upwardly as shown in Figure 1 until the claws64 are disengaged from the grippable member 28. The handle it can thenbe rotated to a different position about the stub axles 56 and then thegrips 6B and pivot member 50 can be slid down again upon the securingportions 40 until the claws 64 again engage the member 28 in a new andpreferred position.

This invention has provided a paint brush having a pivotal connectionbetween the handle and brush portions thereof, the connection being of anew and more economical construction.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that apivotally adjustable brush constructed in accordance with my inventionis particularly well adapted for use,'by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will alsobe obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change andmodification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof,and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shownin carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

I claim:

1. An adjustable connection for attaching together a first and a secondobject comprising: a ridged grippable member having parallelequidistantly spaced apart elongated external ridges arranged inapproximately cylindrical configuration, means for attaching said memberto said first object, said member having two elongated resilientsecuring portions extending outwardly from the other end thereof, saidsecuring portions tending to assume free positions spaced apart fromeach other at their upper ends; two grips disposed on opposite sides ofsaid ridged member, said grips tightly engaging opposite sides of saidgrippable member, each grip having an approximately circular row ofoutwardly extending spaced apart claws, said claws being inturnedagainst said ridged member and fitting between the ridges thereof, saidgrips each having an aperture therethrough at the center of each saidrow of claws; means securing said grips to said second object; and apivot member having a passage therethrough for receiving said securingportions, said passage being of a size such that its walls are grippedby said securing portions, said passage having outwardly flaringsidewalls on the end thereof opposite said grippable member for tightlyengaging said securing portions, said pivot member having two outward-1y extending aligned stub axle portions disposed one on each sidethereof and extending through said apertures in said grips, and the axisof said stub axle portions being disposed at a right angle to saidpassage.

2. An adjustable connection for attaching together a first and secondobject comprising: a grippable member having a rough surface; meanssecuring said grippable member to said first object, said member havingtwo elongated resilient securing portions extending outwardly from theother end thereof, said securing portions tending to assume freepositions spaced apart from each other at their upper ends; two gripsdisposed on opposite sides of said grippable member, said grips tightlyengaging opposite sides of said grippable member; a pivot member havinga passage therethrough for receiving said securing members for therotation of said grippable mem ber about a first axis in said passage,said passage being of a size such that its walls are gripped by saidsecuring portions; means pivotally securing said grips to said pivotmember for rotation about a second axis normal to said first axis; andmeans securing said grips to said second object.

3. A connection as described in claim 2 in which said passage hasoutwardly flaring sidewalls on the end thereof opposite said grippablemember for tightly engaging said securing portions.

4. An adjustable connection for attaching together a first and a secondobject comprising: a grippable member having a rough surface; means.securing said grippable member to said first object; two resilient gripsdisposed on opposite sides of and tightly engaging opposite sides ofsaid grippable member; a pivot member; means pivotally securing saidgrippable member to said pivot member for rotation about a first axis;means pivotally securing said grips to said pivot member for rotationabout a second axis normal to said first axis; and means securing saidgrips to said second object.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 432,130 Fenton July 15, 1890 1,186,915 Landin June 13, 19162,581,141 Paptis Jan. 1, 1952

